How to Make a Terrarium? Create a Lovely DIY Terrarium!
Terraria became highly popular home decorations. Not only they are extremely easy to make, but also fit any decor style. Terrarium plants look incredibly impressive, and they will surely amaze anyone who visits your home. They require just a minimal effort, which is a good news for busy bees. If you want to give someone a piece of nature, a terrarium is a brilliant idea. It makes a perfect housewarming or wedding gift. Learn how to make a terrarium. We have prepared proven methods so that you will make one with no effort.
What is a terrarium? A tiny forest in a glass
Plants should be present in every household. Living in a city means a very limited contact with nature. For this reason, potted plants for many are absolutely necessary elements of interior decoration. They have soothing effect on human body. Terraria are perfect for this purpose - such a miniature garden is a closed ecosystem which looks like a piece of a real forest. Observing what is happening inside of the glass is a very relaxing activity.
Plant terrarium was first invented in the Victorian era by an English doctor Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward. His glass container had a rectangular shape and was known as Wardian case. It was designed to carry plants during long trips overseas.
Is the container an important part of a terrarium?
Regardless of the shape of the container, all terraria work the same. A microclimate develops inside of the sealed vessel. That keeps the organisms inside alive. Because the whole construction is airtight, the weather outside does not affect them.
How to pick the right terrarium plants?
Making your own terrarium does not require any special skills. All you need is your own creativity. It is worth to learn some tips that will help you make a perfect, long lasting terrarium. One of the most important issues while preparing a bottle garden is the choice of the right plants. Keep in mind that not all of the species will live together in harmony.
Preparing a terrarium, you have two options. You can make a closed terrarium and seal the container, so the plants thrive in their own climate. You can also make an open decoration that needs to be watered from time to time. The type of plants that you will choose depends on this decision.
Closed vessels may contain tropical plants and the ones that like humidity. Slow growing plants will be the best choice - they won’t change their appearance very much for a long time.
Compositions inside of sealed terraria may use species such as:
- fern,
- moss,
- peace lily,
- rubber plant,
- hedera (ivy),
- pilea,
- glechoma (ground-ivy).
Keep in mind that in some states it is illegal to collect moss from a forest. If you are not sure if you can gather moss in your country, it might be a better idea to buy it at a flower shop. You might also collect it in your own yard, if you own it.
DIY terrarium - decorations
Apart from the plants, you should also collect some decoration elements for your terrarium. For a closed terrarium it is best to use:
- rocks and pebbles,
- tree bark,
- cones,
- small branches.
If your composition will be placed in an open container, you should choose plants such as cacti and succulents. You have free choice in this matter. For a good visual, effect it is good to match plants with interesting forms and shapes. For instance you could choose echeverias that look like roses and living stones (lithops). The only restriction for your terrarium is to not to match plants living in different environments, for instance ferns with succulents.
How to make a terrarium?
Before starting setting up the composition in your terrarium, you should gather all the relevant equipment. Apart from the right plants, you will also need:
- A glass container - the vessel might be of any shape. If the plants you gathered like humidity, the container needs a tight lid. The size of the vessel should match the scale of the plants. It is worth to choose a bigger jar for your terrarium, so that the plants will have some space to grow. You can choose any container that is made of glass - a big mason jar, wide neck bottles, or even old incandescent light bulbs (remember to remove the filament from the inside).
- Soil - you can use all-purpose potting soil, however every other type will suffice. Make sure that it is free from diseases and fungi. If your terrarium is going to contain succulents, you use a soil mix specifically made for them.
- Activated charcoal - you can purchase it at the pharmacy or in a pet shop. Charcoal is going to regulate the level of humidity in a closed container. It will also prevent the plants from rotting. You can skip this part in case of an open container.
- Gravel or sand - terrarium needs a drainage layer. Material such as sand or gravel gather the excess of water and protect the roots from drenching. You can also use ceramsite for this purpose.
Making a terrarium
If you prepared all the needed elements, you can start making your DIY terrarium project. It is good to protect your working space with old newspapers. This will minimise the cleaning after your work is done.
- Wash the containers and sterilize them with hot water. The glass should be perfectly dry. If you are not sure whether the drainage material and the soil is clean, you can parch it in an oven. It will kill any fungi and bacteria.
- Place the first layer - the drainage - at the bottom of the container. The layer of gravel or sand should be a few centimeters thick - 2 to 5 cm.
- The second layer is the activated charcoal. Skip this step in case of an open decoration.
- Put the soil in the vessel. It should have from 5 to 10 cm. You can smooth the surface using your hands. Be careful not to stain the glass walls, as it is hard to clean them once the plants are inside.
- Dig several holes in the soil and put the plants in them. Cover the roots with soil and press it using your hands or a spoon. If you are planting a cactus, use thick gloves to avoid the risk of hurting yourself with sharp spikes.
- Place the decorations - cones, pebbles, tree bark and moss. Do not place heavy stones on the moss, as it could make it rot.
- The last stage is watering your terrarium. It is best to use a pipette and pour around 10-15 millilitres of water. Then tightly close the container (if it’s closed terrarium).
How to plant a terrarium?
A terrarium should be placed in a bright but not sunny spot. After a few days you should notice water on the walls of your closed terrarium. If the evaporation process is too intense, you can open the container for a few hours and then close it again. On the other hand, if you won’t notice any water on the walls within 2 weeks, pour about 2 millilitres of water into the soil. You can repeat this until water starts evaporating noticeably.
If you made everything correctly, the microclimate should work properly and your terrarium does not need any special attention. Only open compositions should be watered regularly. If you notice that in your closed terrarium the level of humidity dropped significantly, just pour 2-5 ml of water. It should suffice at least for a year. The first signs that it’s too dry in the container are yellow leaves of the plants.
Your terrarium plants might also be attacked by pests. They are often carried in with soil or moss.
If you noticed any insects, use the appropriate insecticide. The problem should be resolved after several days of treatment.
Terrarium is a beautiful decoration. It doesn’t require much effort to take care of - it’s self-sufficient. A big advantage is the fact that it’s very easy to make. If you don’t have any time or motivation to prepare it, you can buy it in a flower shop. Such an attractive and unusual composition is definitely worth having.
Buying a terrarium? Also a great idea!
Do you have no luck when it comes to plants, and therefore you’re worried that even a terrarium is too much for your abilities? But at the same time you really like such decorations and don’t want to give them up. You don’t have to! You can purchase plants in glass containers, already beautifully arranged. Many flower shops offer such products. Just search through different options, pick the size of the decoration and follow useful care tips. It has to work out!
📍 How to make terrarium plants?
Making a terrarium requires only a glass vessel, a few plants and some soil. A terrarium contains several layers - drainage, potting soil, plants and decorations. There are special DIY courses organised in bigger cities, where you can learn how to make such decorations.
📍 How to take care of a terrarium?
Terrarium should be self-sufficient, with some exceptions. Open terrarium plants should be watered regularly. Closed terrarium should not be opened.
📍 How to make a terrarium in a bottle?
Start from placing the soil into your bottle terrarium and then use long and thin sticks (e.g. chopsticks) to put the plants inside. You might compress the moss to squeeze it through the bottleneck.
📍 How to grow moss in a terrarium?
The key to growing moss in a terrarium is recreating its natural conditions. Check what humidity levels are best for the moss you own. Water it regularly if the moss is placed in an open terrarium.
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